Though dotma is a
cosmopolitan place comprising mainly the communities of BODOS, the
Muslims , the Rajbongshis, and the Bengalis, its socio cultural environment is
very much influenced by the Bodos, as they hold almost 80 % population at
present and which was again much higher during the British rule .Despites , the
other communities also perform their socio-cultural activities in different
times on different social atmosphere. The side lights of the predominant Bodo
social strata of the place follows here.

Main aspects 1.
Cultural atmosphere.
2.
Social traditions & Customs.
3.
Social Institutions and Organisations.
4.
Games And sports.

1. Cultural atmosphere.The cultural atmosphere is
experienced by all in respect of festivals and programmes organised by some
societies in various time. The festivals like, Baisagu ( Bihu ) , Kherainai ,
garja Hwnai , among the Bodos as well as Rajbongshis and other Hindu groups are
performed . Also , charismas days by Christian followers , Maharam and other
festivals of Muslims are being held .Royal Dramas and theatres are also being
organised and performed mostly by the Bodos since time immemorial. Some of the
original musical instruments specially used by the Bodos are Kham, Sifung ,
Serja, Gongona , Torkha and Jotha.
The development in cultural
field in the area may be abridged as follows.

Formation
of the cultural and social institutions and organisations:-

I ) The oldest community club , Torun sangha Library was
formed in 1938.
II ) Rongjali Afat , a Bodo cultural organisation was formed
in 1979.
III) Rongjali Sangeet Academy , a cultural institution was
formed in 1983.
IV) Jonglari Bodo Film Production Ltd. was formed in 1982.
V ) Birgoshree Harimu Afat was formed in 1987.
VI ) Dotma dokhora Dularai Bodo Harimu Afat ( All Bodo Cultural
Organisation ) was formed in July 20th,
1992.

Under the guidance of the Dotma
dokhora dularai Bodo Harimu Afat some cultural exchange programmes have been
organised in various corners of the country which are mentioned below.
i ) Demonstration of Bodo Folk Music
and dance at Dhulabari in Nepal on December 5 , 1969 under the
initiative of
Nepali Bodo Sudhar Samity.
ii ) Performance of Bihu programme at Assam
House , New Delhi on April 22 , 1997.
iii ) Performed a C.P.C. , T.V programme at
Delhi Doordarshan Kendra on April 28, 1997 on the Bodo
Baisagu
dance.
iv ) Organised and performed a Bodo
Folk cultural programme at Salugura ( Silliguri ) North Bengal, on
December 30, 1997 with the Bengali and Nepali cultural groups.
v ) Award for " Baisagu Khungur " ( for
boys ) and " baisagu Khungri " ( for girls ) are being introduced
during Annual
Baisagu Celebration at Dotma aith the aim of motivating creative arts amongst
the young
generations .

2. Social Traditions and Customs.

Some social traditional sector Gatha Janai ( seasonal co-operative cultivation ) , Sauri
janai ( One time collective working and Famu Janai ( distant farming )
are followed by Bodo village farmers .Poultry and piggery are also traditional
way of earning by the local people. Other major economic schemes are are weaving
, sericulture and handloom production. Knowledge of methodology of producing
rice beer is prevalent amongst the Bodos. Weaving of Dokhna ( female wearing
cloth of all Bodo women folk ), Aronai ( said to be the waist belt used by the
Bodo warriors during the war time in ancient period ) , Endi ( an Eri cloth from
cocoon of eri moth ) and other handloom productions are most attractive
and potential money maker of the Bodos.

Customs :Amongst the people of Hindu groups , child marriage and bonded child labour is
totally absent in local social system . Bodo groups performs the marraige by the
way of Brahma Dharma , Bathou religion and Christian systems by Christ followers
. Other groups performs according to their respective social customs. Inter cast
marriage is almost absent in the area .
Other Hindu customary systems like Churakaran, Annaprasanna, Namakaran, etc atr
followed by few of the Bodos now a days.

Social atmosphere is controlled by village chiefs (
Gaonburas ).Widow marraige is prevalent among the Bodos. Earlier , child birth
was nurtured by experienced neighboring women folk for which Doi Sarnai, a
customary hospitality to old women folk of the village is arranged by the
guardian concerned.

Food habit.

The main food of the people of the area is rice. Tea is a
part of light food for the man of rank and file. The special vegetables
are Dingkhia , Pudina , Joglauri , Manimuni , Usumoi , lonthi , Nasraikhoro,
Sibru , Sibung , etc.Ondla , prepared from rice powder is a favorite curry among
the Bodos.Of the non-Vegetable foods Pork, Chicken , fish, Napham , Samo , are
favorite among the bodos which are presently adopted by non Bodo people also.

1) Bamboo crafts for making fishing tools , mats , fans ,
and other needful domestic items are present.
2) A few Bodo individuals are found as wooden sculpture
viz. Late Debi Charan Brahma of village Goibari , Dotma . Some of his sculptures
are presently in Guwahati Museum .

Games and Sports :-

The popular games of the common people of this area is
football, volleyball and kabaddi. The Bodo rural children usually resort to
sports like Amai-jumai , Khoi , Hip ( Water sport) , Gar , Ghila etc.